Grandma's Hands

[doojable]

I usually don't pass stuff like this on, but it seemed to strike me as pertinent. I do happen to look at hands a lot so it meant a lot to read this. It was one of those internet "pass it on" type of letters - so you may have read it already.

GRANDMA'S HANDS

Grandma, some ninety plus years, sat feebly on the patio bench. She

didn't move, just sat with her head down staring at her hands.

When I sat down beside her she didn't acknowledge my presence and the

longer I sat I wondered if she was OK.

Finally, not really wanting to disturb her but wanting to check on her

at the same time, I asked her if she was OK.

She raised her head and looked at me and smiled. "Yes, I'm fine, thank

you for asking," she said in a clear strong voice.

"I didn't mean to disturb you, grandma, but you were just sitting here

staring at your hands and I wanted to make sure you were OK," I

explained to her.

"Have you ever looked at your hands," she asked. "I mean really looked

at your hands?" I slowly opened my hands and stared down at them. I

turned them over, palms up and then palms down. No, I guess I had never

really looked at my hands as I tried to figure out the point she was

making.

Grandma smiled and related this story:

Stop and think for a moment about the hands you have, how they have

served you well throughout your years. These hands, though wrinkled,

shriveled and weak have been the tools I have used all my life to reach out

and grab and embrace life. They braced and caught my fall when as a

toddler I crashed upon the floor. They put food in my mouth and clothes

on my back. As a child my mother taught me to fold them in prayer. They

tied my shoes and pulled on my boots. They held my husband and wiped my

tears when he went off to war. They have been dirty, scraped and raw,

swollen and bent. They were uneasy and clumsy when I tried to hold my

newborn son. Decorated with my wedding band they showed the world that I

was married and loved someone special.

They wrote my letters to him and trembled and shook when I buried my

parents and spouse. They have held my children and grandchildren,

consoled neighbors, and shook in fists of anger when I didn't understand. They

have covered my face, combed my hair, and washed and cleansed the rest

of my body. They have been sticky and wet, bent and broken dried and

raw. And to this day when not much of anything else of me works real

well these hands hold me up, lay me down, and again continue to fold in

prayer.

These hands are the mark of where I've been and the ruggedness of

life. But more importantly it will be these hands that God will reach out

and take when he leads me home. And with my hands He will lift me to His

side and there I will use these hands to touch the face of Christ.

I will never look at my hands the same again. But I remember God

reached out and took my grandma's hands and led her home.

When my hands are hurt or sore or when I stroke the face of my children

and husband I think of grandma. I know she has been stroked and

caressed and held by the hands of God. I, too, want to touch the face of God

and feel His hands upon my face.

When you receive this, say a prayer for the person who sent it to you

and watch God's answer to prayer work in your life.

Let's continue praying for one another.

[johniam]

Neat. I remember a Bill Withers song called Grandma's hands or something like that. Wonder if it was along the same lines.

[dmiller]

Dooj -- thanks. Gives one cause to pause and think.

Much is taken for granted, until examined closer. :)

[DrtyDzn]

How many of you looked at your hands? Did you move on to your feet?

Jerry

[mstar1]

Grandma's Hands

Bill Withers

Grandma's hands

Clapped in church on Sunday morning

Grandma's hands

Played a tambourine so well

Grandma's hands

Used to issue out a warning

She'd say, "Billy don't you run so fast

Might fall on a piece of glass

"Might be snakes there in that grass"

Grandma's hands

Grandma's hands

Soothed a local unwed mother

Grandma's hands

Used to ache sometimes and swell

Grandma's hands

Used to lift her face and tell her, she'd say,

"Baby, Grandma understands

That you really love that man

Put yourself in Jesus hands"

Grandma's hands

Grandma's hands

Used to hand me piece of candy

Grandma's hands

Picked me up each time I fell

Grandma's hands

Boy, they really came in handy

She'd say, "Matty don' you whip that boy

What you want to spank him for?

He didn' drop no apple core"

But I don't have Grandma anymore

If I get to Heaven I'll look for

Grandma's hands

I always loved the song---

HERES an old video of the song, which unfortuantely is of low quality

[SafariVista]

That is beautiful Dooj... thank you :)